Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com. Claudie Cooper celebrates a Metro Bank One-Day Cup wicket for Yorkshire.
In-form off-spinner Claudie Cooper says having the trust of captain Lauren Winfield-Hill has been a big reason for her excellent start to life as a Yorkshire cricketer.
Cooper has impressed in both 50-over and T20 cricket so far in 2025, claiming 11 wickets in five matches with a best of 3-22.
She is the county’s leading wicket-taker so far this term.
Cooper was signed by Yorkshire on the back of a recommendation from Winfield-Hill, who had been a squad mate of hers with the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.
The 23-year-old from Guildford was playing for Surrey in the old county structure but not getting regular game time for regional team South East Stars.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2 clash with Leicestershire Foxes at York (10.30am), Cooper said: “Just being clear on plans is crucial, and Lauren has a lot of trust in me.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com. Claudie Cooper, centre, shares a joke with her Yorkshire team-mates.
“When I come on I feel like I have a lot of freedom to be brave and go about taking those wickets.”
One remarkable statistic around Cooper’s success is that in each of her five appearances for Yorkshire, she has taken a wicket in her first over in every one.
“I’m absolutely loving that,” she continued.
Cooper has taken at least two wickets in every game so far this season.
“It’s been really good,” she continued. “I’ve been in and about the wickets, which is always nice.
“I think coming from a team where I wasn’t really playing to coming here and having quite a big job – opening the bowling and things like that – I’ve been happy with that.”
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Claudie Cooper and leg-spinner Olivia Thomas (pictured) have formed a potent spin partnership in 50-over and T20 cricket.
Having had a couple of T20 fixtures in the last 10 days, Yorkshire return to the 50-over format.
They have won two from three in the One-Day, with this the last game in that competition until the start of August, owing to the start of the Vitality Blast at the end of the month.
The White Rose have won four successive games in all competitions, and Cooper said: “It’s all in the momentum for us now. As long as we keep playing our best and keep treating every game as professionals, I think we’re confident that it will keep going our way.
“As a group, we need to make sure we keep that energy.”
Having moved away from the south for the first time in her life, Cooper’s move to Yorkshire has been a big life decision as well as a career decision.
But she is loving it off the field as much as she is on it.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com. Lauren Winfield-Hill returns to her home city of York on Thursday.
“This winter has been unbelievable for us and the environment that we’ve created,” she added.
“It’s a bunch of brilliant girls coming together, and socially as well outside of cricket. We really make an effort to see each other, and we’re building that foundation for next year when we get into Tier 1.
“It’s hard going from where I was at Uni for three or four years, and all that sort of thing, then moving up here. I left all of my friends and family behind, and that was quite hard to start with.
“But the girls around me have been brilliant, and we’re all actually living close together as well. So that’s helped to make it super, super easy.”
Leicestershire head to the Minster City having won one and lost two so far in the One-Day Cup. Like Yorkshire, they are also into round three of the Vitality County T20 Cup this weekend. The Foxes are captained by opening batter Becki Brooker.
